Posts Tagged ‘Marvel’

This week’s episode spans some serious ground both thematically and geographically. In the USA’s capital, Phil Leirness recorded a very special (and hilarious) opening, before traveling to Baltimore to interview great friend of the show Page Branson, an artist, illustrator and podcast host. Then, it’s off to Brooklyn for a chat with the writer/performer of more than one Chillpak Hollywood Hour theme song, Mr. Jon Lawlor. Then, it’s back to Dallas for some improv comedy courtesy of your friend in podcasting, Mr. Dean Haglund.

You would think when recording more than a day late, your friends in podcasting might be in something of a hurry … Instead, they take this installment of YOUR Chillpak Hollywood Hour and turn it into a leisurely 70 minute conversation about the UK “The Office”, “The Larry Sanders Show”, the acting intensive Phil taught this past weekend, recent news about their film The Lady Killers, a recent feature film about improv comedy, the great Don Rickles, and an email from a listener like you (yes, YOU) all about last week’s “Top Ten Artists” episode. All that, plus Dean delves further into the political and moral commentary contained within the paintings of Manet, they discuss what they are reading (a book that might become a future film by Phil and Dean actually reading fiction!), and there is a whole lot of movie development news, featuring the likes of Dwayne Johnson, Christian Bale, Sylvester Stallone and Joss Whedon!

Happy Halloween, everybody! Although your friends in podcasting already treated you to their Top Ten All-Time Favorite Horror Films, this week’s show IS scary good in honor of the occasion! Stories of Halloween festivities are shared, Terri Lynn Rote is nominated as “Worst Person in the World”, public transportation is championed, “Documentary Now!” is celebrated, “Luke Cage” is praised, Season 3 of “The Fall” is criticized and three recent cinematic releases (Woody Allen’s Cafe Society, Whit Stillman’s Love & Friendship and Christopher Guest’s Mascots) are discussed. All that, plus a “Celebrity Death” and that’s BEFORE a 20 minute discussion surrounding the psychology at play in deriving comfort from seeing the same stories told over and over again. Trust us. It’s an outstanding conversation and an incredibly enjoyable episode – irreverent, insightful, inspiring. You know – YOUR Chillpak Hollywood Hour!

Phil starts things off by remembering the victims of last week’s San Bernardino massacre. Then, Dean arrives to remember the great character actor Robert Loggia and Stone Temple Pilots front-man Scott Weiland. Phil asks Dean about the latest developments with his one-man “X-Files” improv stage show. Dean and Phil follow up on their incredible interview of two weeks back with the creator of an anti-bullying app thanks to an email from a listener like you (yes, YOU!). Dean and Phil also follow up on their conversation of weeks past about what would happen in the future when women are allowed to fight side by side as equal warriors with their male counterparts because that future, apparently, has just arrived! Of course, there is also plenty of show biz analysis, insight and irreverence, from Phil’s brush with Joss Whedon to Dean’s viewing of a female-directed film everyone should see, from the puzzling question of why “Supernatural” is still on the air to Phil offering suggestions as to why Marvel’s “Jessica Jones” on Netflix does not have the same heat surrounding it as did “Daredevil” earlier this year. Finally, Phil brings things full circle from his soapbox, calling out those who prevent the gun control debate from becoming an actual debate. With ten percent more “hour”, this is YOUR Chillpak Hollywood Hour. Enjoy!

Dean Haglund has a little too much reverb. Phil Leirness has had a little too much to drink. Together it all works to bring you a hilarious and informative installment of YOUR Chillpak Hollywood Hour.

From the madness that was Force Friday to “Celebrity Deaths” remembrances of a self-help guru, a Disney icon and a master of horror, from your friends in podcasting continuing their appreciations for the Film Fatales list of female-directed movies everyone should see to the influence of YOUR Chillpak Hollywood Hour when it comes to IFC’s “Documentary Now”, Bill Murray’s return to “Ghostbusters” and the shakeup at the Marvel Studios. All that plus one scrapped TV revival, Amazon Streaming makes a move to really challenge Netflix, and “The Daily Show” names new correspondents.

Meanwhile, “The X-Files” has wrapped principal photography on its revival. Assuming it’s successful with viewers, where will the franchise go from here? You won’t want to miss what Dean Haglund has to say about that!

Your friends in podcasting return with another action-packed installment of YOUR Chillpak Hollywood Hour, keeping hot drinks hot and cool drinks cool through irreverent, insightful and occasionally inspiring conversation. On this week’s show, Yvonne (“Batgirl”) Craig is remembered, two new movie releases are reviewed, a great actor from the Golden Age of Hollywood (and beyond) is celebrated, the art of acting, (and what makes “great” acting) is delved into, and the results of the recent actors’ union election are pored over. Meanwhile, fatigue over the Marvel Cinematic Universe seems to be spreading to … Marvel Studios itself! Longtime listeners know that the issue of diversity is never far from the minds or creative impulses of Phil Leirness and Dean Haglund and on this week’s show they applaud the revival of “The X-Files” for embracing diversity and discuss several actors new to the show’s cast. All that, plus three new television series are reviewed and one just announced new show is previewed.

There are many questions to be asked (and hopefully answered) on this week’s show: How was Dean’s whirlwind trip to Vancouver to film the revival of “The X-Files”? Did that filming require his wearing a wig? Will he (and the other Lone Gunmen) return for more episodes? What to make of yet the latest theater shooting, and the life without parole sentencing of the Aurora, Colorado, shooter? How good is the new “Mission: Impossible” movie? How good OR bad is “Ant-Man”? Are superhero adaptations in general, and the Marvel universe specifically, still relevant?

All those questions, and many, many more are discussed.

So, naturally, the whole show begins with a discussion about … reincarnation?!

Goodbyes are foremost on the minds of your friends in podcasting … Phil offers up his thoughts about the “Mad Men” finale and from Dean Haglund’s goodbye to The Big and Tall Show and to the U.S.A. to music lovers’ goodbye to the legendary B.B. King, from David Letterman’s goodbye to late night television to Harry Shearer’s goodbye to “The Simpsons”, this week’s episode of YOUR Chillpak Hollywood Hour embraces the ephemeral nature of life and art. The glories of Sci-Fest are extolled. A Sherlock Holmes movie with Ian McKellen is previewed. The return of “The X-Files”, “Twin Peaks” and Rosario Dawson to “Daredevil” are discussed. Will Phil be binge watching either “Aquarius” or “Hannibal”? Is Dean interested in Conan O’Brien’s new, funny “X-Files”? Stop reading and start listening and you’ll find out. Wherever good podcasts are found.

Cookies. Adrian Brody and John Cusack in China. The deaths of a “Star Trek” producer and a legendary documentarian. A network television remake of Krzysztof Kieslowski’s The Declogue. Werner Herzog’s latest adventure in the South American wild. Spider-man’s return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The history of long form and short form improv. Mike Leigh’s improv approach to his (Academy Award nominated) screenplays. The future of Oscar acceptance speeches. The films of Stanley Kubrick. The best edited movies of all time. The history of the Los Angeles Breakfast Club. A forthcoming Alien sequel from the maker of District 9. That’s a lot to chew on. But chew on it all Dean and Phil do. Especially the cookies. It’s YOUR Chillpak Hollywood Hour.

After several weeks apart, your friends in podcasting usually hit the ground running and this week is no exception as they look back to what was learned following the Sony hack and the release of The Interview, as they discuss the massacre at Charlie Hebdo, as they remember a great actor, a great voice, two great musicians and a comedy genius as they preview two Live Events starring Dean Haglund, as they weigh in on “Star Trek 3″ directing news, as they analyze the Golden Globes, as they theorize what went wrong with Chris Carter’s “The After”, and as they appreciate current female-driven television sci-fi …

Whew! Is that too much for one hour? Not when it is YOUR Chillpak Hollywood Hour!

Dean Haglund, the actor, improv comic and inventor (best known as “Langly,” one of the three computer-hacking geeks on “The X-Files” and their spin-off series “The Lone Gunmen”) engages in thought-provoking, insightful, and irreverent cultural conversation with his co-host and producing partner, independent filmmaker and certified violence prevention specialist Phil Leirness in the production offices of Rational Exuberance. Warning: Dean and Phil's usually hilarious and frequently inspiring discussions are habit-forming, so please, enjoy responsibly!